26 posts tagged “security”
SmartSwipe
Security for Online Shopping
Link: smartswipe.ca
Back in Episode 450, Dick talked about the Compaq Smart Credit Card Internet Keyboard, which came with a smart card reader for online shopping with smart cards. The new SmartSwipe, made by a Canadian company called NetSecure Technologies, is a USB credit card reader. When you do any online shopping, swipe your credit card across Smart Swipe, and it protects and then enters the credit card information into the relevant fields on the website.
According to NetSecure, although traditional SSL encrypts the data in transit from the web browser on your computer to the secure server of the e-commerce site, hackers may still be able to access the information while it's on your computer or its memory before the data is encrypted. SmartSwipe uses a technology called Dynamic SSL, which interacts with traditional SSL. It encrypts the data at the SmartSwipe hardware itself and initiates the SSL key negotiation from SmartSwipe (and not from the personal computer), so that the encryption is extended further back to the earlier point in time where the information is read from the credit card. SmartSwipe works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and JBC, but only on Windows XP and Vista and on Internet Explorer. Those who are interested in the security side of the technology may want to read up on NetSecure's documentation on Dynamic SSL to see if their claims are made out. Dell is now selling SmartSwipe as an accessory.
Squirrel iPhone Credit Card Swiper
Rumour has it that Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is going to make an iPhone hardware and software solution, codename Squirrel, for accepting credit card payment on a card swiper connected to the iPhone. Here's the TechCrunch article.
The March of Technology
Dick is much amused by a frankfurter stand in New York with a red Neon sign flashing "Open". Wouldn't people know, muses Dick.
Waterproof Housing for the Nokia
Alessandro Abate is taking his Canon EOS 50D and a 300mm lens on an Alaska cruise to celebrate with his wife their 25th wedding anniversary. He wonders if Leo can recommend a waterproof housing for his cherished camera while kayaking. If he doesn't need to take photo while kayaking, Leo suggests a waterproof cinch bag, but if he wants to shoot through the protective cover, it's going to cost him.
Warnings from Sandrino
If Leo is going to name his autobiography "Just One More Podcast" (see Episode 812), Sandrino's wife, who is an attorney, is ready to collect their share of the royalties. Also, his daughter has just been accepted into the San Francisco Institute of Art and they may pay a visit to the TWiT Cottage while in the neighbourhood. Leo will be ready with his TWiT Mat.
Listen to Episode 858
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
According to NetSecure, although traditional SSL encrypts the data in transit from the web browser on your computer to the secure server of the e-commerce site, hackers may still be able to access the information while it's on your computer or its memory before the data is encrypted. SmartSwipe uses a technology called Dynamic SSL, which interacts with traditional SSL. It encrypts the data at the SmartSwipe hardware itself and initiates the SSL key negotiation from SmartSwipe (and not from the personal computer), so that the encryption is extended further back to the earlier point in time where the information is read from the credit card. SmartSwipe works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and JBC, but only on Windows XP and Vista and on Internet Explorer. Those who are interested in the security side of the technology may want to read up on NetSecure's documentation on Dynamic SSL to see if their claims are made out. Dell is now selling SmartSwipe as an accessory.
Squirrel iPhone Credit Card Swiper
Rumour has it that Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is going to make an iPhone hardware and software solution, codename Squirrel, for accepting credit card payment on a card swiper connected to the iPhone. Here's the TechCrunch article.
The March of Technology
Dick is much amused by a frankfurter stand in New York with a red Neon sign flashing "Open". Wouldn't people know, muses Dick.
Waterproof Housing for the Nokia
Alessandro Abate is taking his Canon EOS 50D and a 300mm lens on an Alaska cruise to celebrate with his wife their 25th wedding anniversary. He wonders if Leo can recommend a waterproof housing for his cherished camera while kayaking. If he doesn't need to take photo while kayaking, Leo suggests a waterproof cinch bag, but if he wants to shoot through the protective cover, it's going to cost him.
Warnings from Sandrino
If Leo is going to name his autobiography "Just One More Podcast" (see Episode 812), Sandrino's wife, who is an attorney, is ready to collect their share of the royalties. Also, his daughter has just been accepted into the San Francisco Institute of Art and they may pay a visit to the TWiT Cottage while in the neighbourhood. Leo will be ready with his TWiT Mat.
Listen to Episode 858
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Staples 10-Sheet Micro Cut Shredder
Shredder
Link: Staples
Dick has previously talked about the Staples MailMate Shredder (Episode 223). This is a new one from Staples, the 10-Sheet Micro Cut Shredder. It can shred 10 sheets at a time (confetti cut), has a 4.3 gallon bin, an anti-jam (auto-reverse) feature, auto-off, and its titanium blades can shred CDs and DVDs as well. The most important feature for Dick, though, is its blue LED lights.
Bookkeeping
Dick tells a story of a raid by the FBI who wanted to look at the accounts of an organisation. The FBI asked the bookkeeper for the books. "Which set?" asked the bookkeeper. Leo is rushing to buy this Staples shredder, as he's received an ultimatum from Frederique: "Pay tax, or give me a shredder."
Out With the Old
Leo feels certain that there was a custom in New York or Wall Street when at the end of the year people would throw their old desk calendars out of the windows. No. San Francisco maybe. No. The general consensus of the Chatroom is Leo is losing his marbles.
But the Chatroom finally saves the day for Leo, and finds an article by Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle "Mundane 1999 Goes Out the Windows".
iPod Touch Stand
Andy Weight has found a much cheaper stand for the iPod Touch. The Touch comes with its own clear plastic stand. No need for the iFlyz (Episode 783), the In Your Face Viewbase (Episode 802), or the business card holder used as a make-shift stand. For his contribution, Andy gets a shout-out for his kids Joshua and Oliver who are also DGW fans.
Listen to Episode 808
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Bookkeeping
Dick tells a story of a raid by the FBI who wanted to look at the accounts of an organisation. The FBI asked the bookkeeper for the books. "Which set?" asked the bookkeeper. Leo is rushing to buy this Staples shredder, as he's received an ultimatum from Frederique: "Pay tax, or give me a shredder."
Out With the Old
Leo feels certain that there was a custom in New York or Wall Street when at the end of the year people would throw their old desk calendars out of the windows. No. San Francisco maybe. No. The general consensus of the Chatroom is Leo is losing his marbles.
But the Chatroom finally saves the day for Leo, and finds an article by Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle "Mundane 1999 Goes Out the Windows".
iPod Touch Stand
Andy Weight has found a much cheaper stand for the iPod Touch. The Touch comes with its own clear plastic stand. No need for the iFlyz (Episode 783), the In Your Face Viewbase (Episode 802), or the business card holder used as a make-shift stand. For his contribution, Andy gets a shout-out for his kids Joshua and Oliver who are also DGW fans.
Listen to Episode 808
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Schlage LiNK
Remote Access Keypad Entry Lock
Link: Schlage
The Schlage LiNK is a door lock that allows different codes to be set for different users for keypad entry. Its main feature, however, is its internet-enabled remote access so that commands can be sent remotely to the door lock from your computer or cellphone via the internet.
The (black) Wireless Bridge is connected to your home router connected to the internet. You log on to your account on the Schlage website, send your commands from your cellphone or computer to the Wireless Bridge, which are then transmitted to the door lock wirelessly using Z-Wave technology (which uses RF, not infrared as Dick mentions in passing). All communications are encrypted. The commands include unlocking the door and changing the access code for a particular user. You can check whether the door has been locked, and configure the system to send you notifications by email or text message of door entries (say, to check that a child has safely returned home, at what time). All door entries are logged and kept for 90 days.
If you have a network-enabled security webcam you can also connect it to the LiNK system and monitor the webcam on the website. The (white) "light module" also allows you to turn on a lamp in the house remotely.
As the web-based instructions and monitoring are conducted through the Schlage website, you will need an account and pay a monthly subscription.
Leo thinks this is really cool and would like to buy one in order to lock Dane Golden in at the TWiT Cottage after midnight, but has a small reservation about the security or hackability of the system. The Schlage website says it uses "128-bit AEC encryption" (sic), "similar to online banking". By that, they must mean 128-bit AES encryption via SSL (when you log on to your account online and send your commands through the website).
As to the wireless transmission to and from the Wireless Bridge, the only information available is that it uses Z-Wave technology. According to the FAQ of Z-Wave's website, the wireless transmission makes use of the 900 MHz radio frequency band (908.42 MHz). The Z-Wave chip uses a "3DES engine for confidentiality and authentication". Presumably it uses the Triple DES encryption standard.
Another Gadget Show for Leo?
Dick noticed the other day that Leo was tweeting about who the audience would like to see if he were to do a hardcore gadget show a la TWiT. Leo thinks that such a show might attract advertisers, which would help keep his crew employed, although he is not sure he will do such a show.
Printing Costs
Speaking of advertising, Dick remarks that the New York Times now accepts advertisements on their front page. Leo read an article (see The Business Insider) recently that it would cost the New York Times half as much to give away free Kindles to their subscribers for reading the electronic edition as to deliver hard printed copies to them.
Newspaper Online
Dick got a link the other day from a listener about an old TV programme report in the early 1980's on getting your newspaper online via a phone line, and the whole process was started by dialling a rotary phone. It was a 2-hour download at $5 an hour. Dick later tweeted about it on the TWiT Army. The link was sent in by Mike Gunn, of a YouTube video of a KRON-TV programme way back from 1981. The revolution is taking a long time.
GE Product Schenectady
Paul McElligott notes the happy coincidence in Episode 758 in which Dick did a GE product (the 911 Emergency Light Switch), and read a letter from Schenectady, New York. Schenectady used to be a GE company town for many years. His own parents met there in the 1940's while working for GE, and so one can say, that Paul himself is a General Electric product.
Listen to Episode 768
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The (black) Wireless Bridge is connected to your home router connected to the internet. You log on to your account on the Schlage website, send your commands from your cellphone or computer to the Wireless Bridge, which are then transmitted to the door lock wirelessly using Z-Wave technology (which uses RF, not infrared as Dick mentions in passing). All communications are encrypted. The commands include unlocking the door and changing the access code for a particular user. You can check whether the door has been locked, and configure the system to send you notifications by email or text message of door entries (say, to check that a child has safely returned home, at what time). All door entries are logged and kept for 90 days.
If you have a network-enabled security webcam you can also connect it to the LiNK system and monitor the webcam on the website. The (white) "light module" also allows you to turn on a lamp in the house remotely.
As the web-based instructions and monitoring are conducted through the Schlage website, you will need an account and pay a monthly subscription.
Leo thinks this is really cool and would like to buy one in order to lock Dane Golden in at the TWiT Cottage after midnight, but has a small reservation about the security or hackability of the system. The Schlage website says it uses "128-bit AEC encryption" (sic), "similar to online banking". By that, they must mean 128-bit AES encryption via SSL (when you log on to your account online and send your commands through the website).
As to the wireless transmission to and from the Wireless Bridge, the only information available is that it uses Z-Wave technology. According to the FAQ of Z-Wave's website, the wireless transmission makes use of the 900 MHz radio frequency band (908.42 MHz). The Z-Wave chip uses a "3DES engine for confidentiality and authentication". Presumably it uses the Triple DES encryption standard.
Another Gadget Show for Leo?
Dick noticed the other day that Leo was tweeting about who the audience would like to see if he were to do a hardcore gadget show a la TWiT. Leo thinks that such a show might attract advertisers, which would help keep his crew employed, although he is not sure he will do such a show.
Printing Costs
Speaking of advertising, Dick remarks that the New York Times now accepts advertisements on their front page. Leo read an article (see The Business Insider) recently that it would cost the New York Times half as much to give away free Kindles to their subscribers for reading the electronic edition as to deliver hard printed copies to them.
Newspaper Online
Dick got a link the other day from a listener about an old TV programme report in the early 1980's on getting your newspaper online via a phone line, and the whole process was started by dialling a rotary phone. It was a 2-hour download at $5 an hour. Dick later tweeted about it on the TWiT Army. The link was sent in by Mike Gunn, of a YouTube video of a KRON-TV programme way back from 1981. The revolution is taking a long time.
GE Product Schenectady
Paul McElligott notes the happy coincidence in Episode 758 in which Dick did a GE product (the 911 Emergency Light Switch), and read a letter from Schenectady, New York. Schenectady used to be a GE company town for many years. His own parents met there in the 1940's while working for GE, and so one can say, that Paul himself is a General Electric product.
Listen to Episode 768
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Panasonic CPA
Cheque Printing Accountant
Link: biocomp.net
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Thanks to a reminder by listener Steve Horlick, originally from Brooklyn who now lives in Gillette, Wyoming, Dick talks about the Panasonic CPA - the Check Printing Accountant. From 15 to 20 years ago, this gadget looked like a thick calculator, which could print out your cheques (you would have to type in the details on the tiny qwerty keyboard), and even balance your cheque book. Dick saw the demo, did not want to try it for himself, and did not want one for himself, not even for the Gadget Warehouse.
The Five Boroughs of New York
Dick and Leo discuss what is a "borough" in New York. Find out a bit more from Wikipedia.
Landing on the Hudson River
Dick was alerted to the landing by Chesley Sullenberger of the US Airways jet on the Hudson River, but was advised that boat owners should not go down the river to where the jet landed. So Dick doesn't have photos of the landing for us, but he has photos of the Hudson 24 hours after the landing! Almost as good. See Dick's photos on smugmug.
Butter and Margarine
Leo tries to lure Dick to this year's Butter and Eggs Day at Petaluma, on Saturday, 25 April 2009, with Petaluma's Cutest Little Chick. Leo explains again how the perpetual parade works. Everyone in town will be in the parade, except Leo, as he has to do the radio show. Jennifer will be in it, doing her zumba class. The theme of this year's 28th Annual Parade is "Recycle, Reuse, Remember".
The Fragrance of Petaluma
Two times of the year, in the spring and the fall, Petaluma has a fragrance pervading the town. It's when the farmers lay down the fertilisers. If you can't get enough of Petaluma talk by Dick and Leo, try the Petaluma Ristorante in Manhattan.
Mad In Your Eye
Dick has uncovered a case of trade paperbacks "Here's Mad In Your Eye". Available at BuyMadStuff.
The Five Boroughs of New York
Dick and Leo discuss what is a "borough" in New York. Find out a bit more from Wikipedia.
Landing on the Hudson River
Dick was alerted to the landing by Chesley Sullenberger of the US Airways jet on the Hudson River, but was advised that boat owners should not go down the river to where the jet landed. So Dick doesn't have photos of the landing for us, but he has photos of the Hudson 24 hours after the landing! Almost as good. See Dick's photos on smugmug.
Butter and Margarine
Leo tries to lure Dick to this year's Butter and Eggs Day at Petaluma, on Saturday, 25 April 2009, with Petaluma's Cutest Little Chick. Leo explains again how the perpetual parade works. Everyone in town will be in the parade, except Leo, as he has to do the radio show. Jennifer will be in it, doing her zumba class. The theme of this year's 28th Annual Parade is "Recycle, Reuse, Remember".
The Fragrance of Petaluma
Two times of the year, in the spring and the fall, Petaluma has a fragrance pervading the town. It's when the farmers lay down the fertilisers. If you can't get enough of Petaluma talk by Dick and Leo, try the Petaluma Ristorante in Manhattan.
Mad In Your Eye
Dick has uncovered a case of trade paperbacks "Here's Mad In Your Eye". Available at BuyMadStuff.
Stop Scrolling
One used to have to keep scrolling down on Dick's website to see all his stuff. With a little help from Ludwik and GoToMeeting, Dick has finally given his stuff its own pages.
Nerdy Pleasure
Listener Andrew started watching Leo on ZDTV back in his high school days, when it was a nerdy pleasure for him. A few years ago he was glad to find Leo's new podcasting empire. He has recently discovered a gadget which is exactly what he has for a long time been hoping for and would very much like Leo to do a review of it. It's the Car Camera Voyager Pro with GPS Logger from Brick House Security. It has an internal "event" sensor for detecting speed, braking, acceleration and impact. It constantly records a video, with GPS logging, on to an SD card, and will retain 10 seconds prior to and 30 seconds after an "event". Plug the SD card into a computer and you can watch the video with your car's GPS location.
Another Record
Dick and Leo are enjoying themselves in this recording session. Yesterday was a half-hour show, and today, at 33:55, this is the longest episode of DGW.
Listen to Episode 755
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
One used to have to keep scrolling down on Dick's website to see all his stuff. With a little help from Ludwik and GoToMeeting, Dick has finally given his stuff its own pages.
Nerdy Pleasure
Listener Andrew started watching Leo on ZDTV back in his high school days, when it was a nerdy pleasure for him. A few years ago he was glad to find Leo's new podcasting empire. He has recently discovered a gadget which is exactly what he has for a long time been hoping for and would very much like Leo to do a review of it. It's the Car Camera Voyager Pro with GPS Logger from Brick House Security. It has an internal "event" sensor for detecting speed, braking, acceleration and impact. It constantly records a video, with GPS logging, on to an SD card, and will retain 10 seconds prior to and 30 seconds after an "event". Plug the SD card into a computer and you can watch the video with your car's GPS location.
Another Record
Dick and Leo are enjoying themselves in this recording session. Yesterday was a half-hour show, and today, at 33:55, this is the longest episode of DGW.
Listen to Episode 755
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
ioSafe Solo
Disaster Resistant External Hard Drive
Link: ioSafe
Dick went to CES 2009 early to attend a demo of the new product from ioSafe. The ioSafe Solo is a USB2 external hard drive, but it's no ordinary CompUSA External HDD Enclosure (Episode 67). It has a specially designed and constructed enclosure that is "indestructible", or disaster resistant. It can stay immersed in water up to 10 feet deep for 72 hours, and withstand heat up to 1550° (or about 760°), which will protect the hard drive in case of flooding or fire. Choices of capacity of 500GB, 1TB or 1.5TB. The disaster protection does come at a price - in terms of size and weight. It's about 5" x 7" x 11" and weighs 15 pounds. The price includes 3 years of warranty and a year of $1,000 disaster data recovery.
Ordeal by Fire and Water
The Solo Demo was one of the best CES demos Dick attended. The Solo was thrown into a swimming pool, and then put into a furnace with the temperature rising to 1200°F and up. After the ordeal by water and fire, the hard drive was retrieved from its steaming case, connected to a computer, and the data was still safe.
On the Road to Recovery
Ian Johnson from Vancouver discovered th Daily Giz Wiz about 6 months ago, around the time he broke up with his girlfriend of 7 years' standing. He couldn't get enough of the DGW and has now listened to the entire back catalogue. The slogan in the Monday Theme "The worse your life is, the better we sound" particularly resonates with Ian.
Jingle Submissions
Ian Johnson is a musician himself, and he wonders if Dick and Leo receive a lot of theme songs and jingle submissions. He has a few ideas for the Mail Bag and may in due course submit a theme or two.
The First DGW Jingle
Dick asks Leo which was the first DGW jingle. In a rare moment of lucidity, Leo remembers, correctly, that it was Mark Blasco's Opening Theme, which he wrote on a geek cruise. Then the first listener-submitted jingle was Paul Minshall's D-A-I-L-Y Closing Theme (or the gravy jingle). George Wood then arrived on the scene and more recently Dan Lueders. Not bad for someone who can't remember the iCap from the radio show just a few weeks ago.
Listen to Episode 751
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Ian Johnson from Vancouver discovered th Daily Giz Wiz about 6 months ago, around the time he broke up with his girlfriend of 7 years' standing. He couldn't get enough of the DGW and has now listened to the entire back catalogue. The slogan in the Monday Theme "The worse your life is, the better we sound" particularly resonates with Ian.
Jingle Submissions
Ian Johnson is a musician himself, and he wonders if Dick and Leo receive a lot of theme songs and jingle submissions. He has a few ideas for the Mail Bag and may in due course submit a theme or two.
The First DGW Jingle
Dick asks Leo which was the first DGW jingle. In a rare moment of lucidity, Leo remembers, correctly, that it was Mark Blasco's Opening Theme, which he wrote on a geek cruise. Then the first listener-submitted jingle was Paul Minshall's D-A-I-L-Y Closing Theme (or the gravy jingle). George Wood then arrived on the scene and more recently Dan Lueders. Not bad for someone who can't remember the iCap from the radio show just a few weeks ago.
Listen to Episode 751
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Lorex LW2101 Wireless Surveillance System
2.4 GHz Digital Wireless Security Camera System
Link: Lorex CCTV
The Lorex LW2101 comes with a slim receiver and a wireless security camera. The camera uses 2.4GHz digital wireless technology (as opposed to older 2.4 GHz analogue) which is secure (with synchronised digital channel hopping, or frequency hopping spread spectrum technology), and interference-free. The wireless range is 450 ft line of sight.
The camera is colour TV, with digital zooming-tilting-panning enabled, weather resistant (indoor/outdoor use), with night vision capability (infrared) for no or low light situations. A battery pack comes included for the camera to make it portable. The camera captures both audio and video (up to 640 x 480). The system can take up to 4 security cameras, and you can add other types of camera compatible with the LW2101, such as a baby monitor. You can also hook it up to any TV/monitor or DVR, and additional receivers.
Technology Exhibitions
Tomorrow Dick is off to CES 2009, for a pre-show demonstration of an "indestructible hard drive", while Leo will be at MacWorld Expo doing MacBreak Weekly live. He will be giving the last keynote at MacWorld this year.
Festive Letters Jingle Lives On
Christmas celebration does not stop on 25th December here in Puerto Rico, says Ernesto Rodriguez. It goes on for another 8 days after Christmas (the Octavus), past 3 Kings' Day, i.e. all the way to 6th January. So the Festive Letters Jingle should play on. Yes, that's the 12 days of Christmas. Ernesto thinks there should also be a Latin version of the Letters Jingle.
Listen to Episode 736
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Homepage
The camera is colour TV, with digital zooming-tilting-panning enabled, weather resistant (indoor/outdoor use), with night vision capability (infrared) for no or low light situations. A battery pack comes included for the camera to make it portable. The camera captures both audio and video (up to 640 x 480). The system can take up to 4 security cameras, and you can add other types of camera compatible with the LW2101, such as a baby monitor. You can also hook it up to any TV/monitor or DVR, and additional receivers.
Technology Exhibitions
Tomorrow Dick is off to CES 2009, for a pre-show demonstration of an "indestructible hard drive", while Leo will be at MacWorld Expo doing MacBreak Weekly live. He will be giving the last keynote at MacWorld this year.
Festive Letters Jingle Lives On
Christmas celebration does not stop on 25th December here in Puerto Rico, says Ernesto Rodriguez. It goes on for another 8 days after Christmas (the Octavus), past 3 Kings' Day, i.e. all the way to 6th January. So the Festive Letters Jingle should play on. Yes, that's the 12 days of Christmas. Ernesto thinks there should also be a Latin version of the Letters Jingle.
Listen to Episode 736
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Homepage
CartStopper
Shopping Cart Safety
Link: CartStopper
A heads-up from a listener, Charles from Berkeley, California. No need to worry about your shopping cart with your child sitting in it rolling down the slope. At one end of the CartStopper is a giant suction cup, connected to a bungee cord with a hook at the other end which you attach to the shopping cart. The device is strong enough to hold in place a full shopping cart with a child in it.
Leo thinks the CartStopper might be another Purseguard (Episode 406). That's not going to please Shopping Mom Dyanne who designed the device!
CES 2009 Preview
Dick was at the CES 2009 Preview last week. CES has to hold a preview in order to announce the CES awards in January.
Busy Bee
Busy Bee Ludwik Trammer is at work again. He has some ideas for Dick's site, and is going to show Dick on Go To Meeting. By the way, Giz Wiz Search now has a new .com URL: www.gizwizsearch.com.
The Joy of Gadgets
The Kodak Disc Camera (Episode 690) brings back fond memories of a strong and vibrant company for Brent [Cascamenti] from Rochester, New York, who has been working for Kodak as an electrical engineer for 27 years. Brent has been a faithful listener since Episode 1, and thanks Dick and Leo for bringing him the joy of gadgets.
Skunk Works
Brent uses the word "Skunk Works" in his letter, which Leo explains to Dick, with a little help from Wikipedia, first used by Lockheed Martin in 1938. The name has its origin in Al Capp's comic strip L'il Abner.
Dick's Thanksgiving
No small talk for Dick's party at Thanksgiving, where his pineapple upside down cake is de rigueur (in addition to the gravy of course). For more on Dick's Thanksgiving celebrations, go back to Episode 199. Whenever Dick misses his Thanksgiving fare, he can go to "Good Enough To Eat", all year round. This is also the restaurant Dick took Leo for a huge breakfast when Leo was in New York (listen to the beginning of Episode 334).
Ready for TTTT
Leo had numerous ideas for last week's TTTT (see Episode 697), but only after the recording had ended. This time, he's ready.
Listen to Episode 701
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
CES 2009 Preview
Dick was at the CES 2009 Preview last week. CES has to hold a preview in order to announce the CES awards in January.
Busy Bee
Busy Bee Ludwik Trammer is at work again. He has some ideas for Dick's site, and is going to show Dick on Go To Meeting. By the way, Giz Wiz Search now has a new .com URL: www.gizwizsearch.com.
The Joy of Gadgets
The Kodak Disc Camera (Episode 690) brings back fond memories of a strong and vibrant company for Brent [Cascamenti] from Rochester, New York, who has been working for Kodak as an electrical engineer for 27 years. Brent has been a faithful listener since Episode 1, and thanks Dick and Leo for bringing him the joy of gadgets.
Skunk Works
Brent uses the word "Skunk Works" in his letter, which Leo explains to Dick, with a little help from Wikipedia, first used by Lockheed Martin in 1938. The name has its origin in Al Capp's comic strip L'il Abner.
Dick's Thanksgiving
No small talk for Dick's party at Thanksgiving, where his pineapple upside down cake is de rigueur (in addition to the gravy of course). For more on Dick's Thanksgiving celebrations, go back to Episode 199. Whenever Dick misses his Thanksgiving fare, he can go to "Good Enough To Eat", all year round. This is also the restaurant Dick took Leo for a huge breakfast when Leo was in New York (listen to the beginning of Episode 334).
Ready for TTTT
Leo had numerous ideas for last week's TTTT (see Episode 697), but only after the recording had ended. This time, he's ready.
Listen to Episode 701
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Swann Communications Flashlight DVR
Flashlight/Camcorder Combo
Link: Swann Communications
Swann Communications' Flashlight DVR is a flashlight which can also take videos/snapshots. It's a heavy duty flashlight, with 3 levels of brightness, and the infrared sensors provide night vision up to 13 feet. But you can also turn it into a camcorder for taking videos (640 x 480 MPEG-4), or a camera for taking snapshots. 128MB built-in memory, but has a card slot for mini-SD, up to 2GB. USB-enabled.
Off To France
Leo's daughter Abby is off to France today. Leo and Jennifer are going to be a bit teary.
MST3K
Doug from Stanhope, New Jersey, knows Dick loves doing movie satire in Mad, and writes in about the old TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which did running commentaries on bad movies. The creators of the show now produce just the audio running commentary soundtrack which you can download from their website, and play it at the same time as the movie. It's at RiffTrax.
Listen to Episode 648
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Off To France
Leo's daughter Abby is off to France today. Leo and Jennifer are going to be a bit teary.
MST3K
Doug from Stanhope, New Jersey, knows Dick loves doing movie satire in Mad, and writes in about the old TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which did running commentaries on bad movies. The creators of the show now produce just the audio running commentary soundtrack which you can download from their website, and play it at the same time as the movie. It's at RiffTrax.
Listen to Episode 648
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Brookstone Photo Frame Speakers
"Traditional" Picture Frames and Speakers
Link: Brookstone
These photo frames from Brookstone plug into your laptop via USB, displaying 4" x 6" pictures (physical prints, not digital photos), and double up as a nice pair of speakers for your laptop.
Days Off
Leo's weekend is packed with recording podcasts, and his day off is Monday. Dick also works over the weekend and takes Thursday off. Dick will be taking the Circle Line Boat Tour to see the Waterfalls, the latest public art intallations in New York (see Episode 591). Dick missed the last art installation at Rickefeller Center, a 65-foot tall erector set of a model building, called "What My Dad Gave Me".
An Adventure for Dane
Dane is going to visit Dick in New York, with a tour of the Mad Office, and probably a job interview with GizWiz Productions.
Poker Runs
Learn about Rocky Aoki, cigarette boats and poker runs from Dick and Leo.
Days Off
Leo's weekend is packed with recording podcasts, and his day off is Monday. Dick also works over the weekend and takes Thursday off. Dick will be taking the Circle Line Boat Tour to see the Waterfalls, the latest public art intallations in New York (see Episode 591). Dick missed the last art installation at Rickefeller Center, a 65-foot tall erector set of a model building, called "What My Dad Gave Me".
An Adventure for Dane
Dane is going to visit Dick in New York, with a tour of the Mad Office, and probably a job interview with GizWiz Productions.
Poker Runs
Learn about Rocky Aoki, cigarette boats and poker runs from Dick and Leo.
Eye-Fi Adapter for CF
Andrew40, Brad Bisner and Shaun Bridgany have all written in about SD to CF adapters. Leo was bemoaning the fact that he couldn't use the Eye-Fi Explore (Episode 608) because his DSLR used Compact Flash instead of SD, and they wonder if the Eye-Fi will work inside these converters. Ryan Shrout of PC Perspective confirms from the chatroom that it does. In fact Amazon offers the Eye-Fi card bundled with a SD to CF adapter.
Listen to Episode 626
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Andrew40, Brad Bisner and Shaun Bridgany have all written in about SD to CF adapters. Leo was bemoaning the fact that he couldn't use the Eye-Fi Explore (Episode 608) because his DSLR used Compact Flash instead of SD, and they wonder if the Eye-Fi will work inside these converters. Ryan Shrout of PC Perspective confirms from the chatroom that it does. In fact Amazon offers the Eye-Fi card bundled with a SD to CF adapter.
Listen to Episode 626
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Big Stick
Trailer Theft Protection
Link: Carry The Big Stick
Not a marine version of the Uroclub, but another gadget from the Marine Aftermarket Trade Show, the Big Stick is an anti-theft device to protect your boat trailer. It's a bar lock that attaches to one of the wheels of your trailer.
... and carry the big stick, said Roosevelt.
Plenty of Room for Themes
Kelly from Montgomery, Alabama doesn't agree with Leo that they've run out of days for themes (Episode 609). There's still Show-Free Saturday and Sleeping-In Sunday.
